Photo: Gerd Böh

Yoga and the Business of Real Life

Dreams, Disappointment, and Practice

BY MAGAZINE COLUMNIST BARBARA DENOWH

I’ve been thinking about lightness a lot lately. How I’m constantly striving for lightness in my practice. All those times I deeply bend my knees in downward dog, come to the balls of my feet and hop. Just hoping to feel some lightness.

And, I’ve been thinking about how that lightness can translate into life off the mat. I hear the hardest part about flying is the landing and I’m pretty sure lightness can help out there.

I am discovering that I really can bring that lightness off my mat and apply it in my life.

Must come down

You may remember my manic energy and complete elation at discovering a studio being literally dropped into my lap (you can read about it here, here, and here).

Well, I got an email from the studio owner saying that she couldn’t support having that space just for me to teach yoga.

Gulp.

I had been hoping to use the space to build up my business and then eventually take over the lease myself. I know it sounded too good to be true, but I was helping her out and in turn she was helping me out.

I didn’t know how to feel when I read that email. Humiliated? Because I had shouted it from the rooftops and shared pictures and made posters and made business cards and moved all my stuff in. Defeated? Because how I had hoped it would turn out. Hurt? Because we had an agreement and it fell through.

Finding perspective

I probably felt all of those.

And, I think disappointment was the biggest thing I felt. It could have been so cool! It is such a beautiful space and just perfect for a little yoga studio.

I thought about ways that I could take over the lease and make all of this happen for myself. And then I remembered that lightness that I’m always seeking. Having the burden of a studio, a lease, insurance, and utilities when my business wasn’t ready is far from light. I would have been weighted down, looking at every student who came in as a dollar sign.

I think now when I have only one student show up that it is a blessing. I get to focus all of my energy on them and address their needs and send them home with that yummy yoga glow. If I was struggling to meet an impossible rent, I probably wouldn’t think that if only one student showed up. Ugh.

Open road ahead

I guess the disappointment comes from losing such a beautiful space. Of course, a big part of lightness is seeing the good news. I’m still teaching there just not in that space. I’ll actually be teaching in the pilates studio. Which means I still get to meet new students and expand my teaching opportunities.

Another part of lightness to me is finding the humor in things. In the email from the studio owner she said, “you can teach your classes in the studio and it will be great because you will have mirrors!”

Which totally made me laugh!

——
Barbara Denowh is a yoga teacher in Helena, Montana. She rambles about teaching, her wonderful husband, and her hound at babsbabble.com. Look for Barbara Denowh Yoga on Facebook or email denowhyoga@gmail.com

Teaching schedule

Mondays
12:00-1:00 PM at IM=X Pilates
7:15-8:15 PM at Fuel Fitness

Tuesdays
6:30-7:30 PM at IM=X Pilates
8:00-9:00 PM at Dancing Lotus Center

Wednesdays
5:30-6:30 PM at YMCA
7:15-8:15 PM at Fuel Fitness

Thursdays
6:30-7:30 PM at IM=X Pilates

Saturdays
August 14th and 28th, 9:00-10:15 AM at Dancing Lotus Center

© 2011, The Magazine of Yoga, LLC.